The Jets found something for Joe McKnight to do

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on November 19, 2010, 3:27 PM EST

We haven’t heard from Hard Knockspunching bag Joe McKnight in a while.

While Leon Washington works on his Pro Bowl credentials in Seattle and Danny Woodhead captures the hearts of every short white guy in New England, McKnight has quietly been inactive for seven of nine games this season.

That trend will change Sunday, in part because the Jets need help at cornerback. Really. The Jets are down two cornerbacks and plan to use McKnight as their fifth option. He’ll only enter the game if the Jets suffer more injuries.

“He’s been working that way,” coach Rex Ryan said Friday via ESPNNewYork.com. “It probably won’t be very multiple with him out there in coverage, but we taught him a couple zone and I think we even taught him some man coverage. Hell be alright, he’s been out there.”

Consider him the homeless man’s Troy Brown.

“I’m telling you guys, he’s getting ready to explode,” Ryan said. “He earned our non-trust, I guess you’d say it, but fumbling, but the way he’s practiced, he’s earned our trust back. I think it’s just a matter of time. Expect to see him out there because he’s been playing.”